After Your Colposcopy: Next Steps

A colposcopy provides an up-close look at your cervix, the part of your uterus that opens into your vagina. At Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology in Amarillo, Texas, our team may recommend this simple exam if you’ve had:

• Abnormal Pap smear results
• Positive HPV test results 
• Abnormal pelvic exam results

In short, we use a colposcopy to investigate abnormal Pap smear, HPV test, or pelvic exam results to detect precancerous or cancerous changes or to examine genital warts or other growths in your cervix. 

Here, our board-certified experts explain what happens during a colposcopy and what the next steps may be after you receive the results of this in-depth cervical evaluation. 

Your colposcopy procedure

A colposcopy is very similar to a routine pelvic exam. The procedure takes 10-20 minutes to complete and is done in three basic steps: 

1. Cervix visualization

Once you’re lying comfortably on the exam table with your feet in supports, your doctor inserts a speculum into your vagina. This instrument (also used in pelvic exams) gently opens the walls of your vagina and makes your cervix visible. 

2. Magnified evaluation

Your gynecologist positions the colposcope instrument a few inches away from you — it doesn’t go inside or touch your body. Then, they switch on the magnifying device’s bright light and look through its binocular-like lenses at your cervix. 

3. Swabbing and biopsy 

Your doctor applies an acetic wash to your cervix with a cotton swab. This solution highlights abnormal cells and makes it easier to spot suspicious areas of tissue. You may feel a mild tingling or burning sensation when the wash is applied. 

If your doctor sees any questionable areas, they may perform a quick cervical biopsy by scraping away a small tissue sample for laboratory testing. During the biopsy, you may feel mild pressure, a sharp pinch, or a sensation similar to menstrual cramping.

Following your colposcopy

The results of your colposcopy procedure determine your next steps. In most cases, this means waiting for the results of a biopsied cervical tissue sample. 

Post-procedure care

You can resume normal activities after your procedure. You may experience light spotting, along with minor vaginal pain and brown discharge (from the acetic solution) for a few days. Avoid sexual intercourse, tampon use, and douching as your cervix heals. 

Waiting for your results

Biopsy results typically arrive within 2-10 days, depending on when you have your procedure and how busy the analyzing lab is at that time. The lab pathologist studies your cervical sample under a microscope and writes a comprehensive report of their findings.

If your doctor doesn’t see anything unusual during your colposcopy and doesn’t perform a biopsy, you can discuss next steps right after your procedure. 

Recommended next steps

About two in five women (40%) who have colposcopy are found to have no abnormal cells and require no additional follow-up. About three in five women (60%) require treatment to address a diagnosed precancerous abnormality. 

Depending on your specific case, we may advise you to:

Continue with routine Pap testing

If your doctor doesn’t see anything abnormal during your colposcopy — or if your biopsy results are clear — they’ll likely advise you to simply keep up with your usual cervical cancer screening schedule (Pap smear and/or HPV testing). 

Schedule more frequent Pap tests

If your biopsy shows early cervical cell abnormality, like mild dysplasia, your doctor may advise you to have more frequent, repeat Pap/HPV screenings within a certain timeframe (i.e., every 6-12 months), or have repeat colposcopies, until two consecutive test results are normal. 

Mild dysplasia often goes away on its own, meaning cells return to normal without treatment. 

Undergo treatment for precancer cells

If your biopsy results show more advanced precancer cells, your doctor will recommend taking steps to eliminate these abnormal cells. Usually, this means scheduling a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). 

Widely considered the best way to remove cervical precancers before they evolve or spread, LEEP uses a slim wire loop with an electric current to surgically remove thin layers of cervical tissue. Treating precancers with LEEP prevents cervical cancer 90% of the time. 

Continued health protection

Like routine Pap/HPV testing, a diagnostic colposcopy aims to protect you from cervical cancer and safeguard your long-term health. 

Do you have questions or concerns about your upcoming colposcopy procedure? We’re here to help. Call 806-359-5468 to schedule a visit with our women’s wellness experts at Panhandle Obstetrics and Gynecology today.